Kevin Aguilar vs Zubaira Tukhugov UFC Point Spread Picks - 2/22/2020

Kevin Aguilar vs Zubaira Tukhugov

UFC Fight Night 168

Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Kevin Aguilar will battle Zubaira Tukhugov at UFC Fight Night 168 in Spark Arena in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, February 22, 2020. The opening odds have Aguilar coming in at -115 while Tukhugov is priced at -105.

Kevin "Angel of Death" Aguilar will be looking to add a win to his total of 17-2-0. The 31-year-old tips the scales at 145 lbs and stands in at 5' 7". The orthodox fighter has a reach of 73". Zubaira "Warrior" Tukhugov stands 5' 8" and steps on the scale at 145 lbs. The orthodox fighter walks into the cage holding a mark of 18-4-1. The 29-year-old reaches 68". Regarding significant strikes, Kevin Aguilar lands 3.78 per min while Zubaira Tukhugov lands 2.28 significant strikes per minute. Aguilar is connecting on 36% of the significant strikes he tries and Tukhugov is connecting on 35%. Regarding defending in the cage, "Angel of Death" takes 4.22 significant strikes per minute and "Warrior" absorbs 2.04. Aguilar also stops 54% of the significant strikes that are thrown his way while Tukhugov is able to stop 68% of the shots thrown his way.

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In terms of takedowns, Kevin Aguilar is not as efficient of a grappler as he is averaging a takedown 0.25 times per 3 rounds. Aguilar is taking his opponents to the canvas on 50% of his attempts and thwarting 86% of all takedowns attempted on him. Tukhugov is getting his opponent to the mat on 56% of his takedown tries and is stuffing 90% of all takedowns attempted on him. Regarding going for the sub, Aguilar is the more capable of the two fighters by attempting 0.5 submissions per 15 min while Tukhugov attempts 0.3 submissions per 3 rounds.

In his previous bout, Kevin Aguilar fought Dan Ige and was on the losing end of this fight via unanimous decision in round 3. Ige ended up landing 92 of 146 total strikes that he let go in that fight. Aguilar walked away from this fight having landed 65 of 136 total strikes. When talking about significant strikes, Ige landed 71 of 125, which gave him a rate of 56%. He finished the fight landing 52 of 102 significant strikes directed at the head. On the other side of the Octagon, Aguilar ended up landing 31% of his significant strikes by connecting on 33 of 104. Of all the significant strikes, he connected on 21 of 83 pointed at the head. 61% of the significant strikes connected on by Ige and 63% of them connected on by Aguilar were done at distance.

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In the last Octagon appearance for Zubaira Tukhugov, he battled Lerone Murphy and FALSE by way of split decision in round 3. Murphy landed 82% of the significant strikes he took from distance and Tukhugov ended up landing 45% of the significant strikes he tried at a distance. Tukhugov connected on 37% of the significant strikes he attempted by landing 22 of 58. He ended up landing 20 of 53 significant strikes directed at the head. Murphy landed 28 of 78 significant strikes in that contest. Of those significant strikes, he ended up landing 12 of 55 to the head. In regard to total strikes attempted in that fight, Murphy was 65 of 116 and Tukhugov was 28 of 68 of the strikes he threw in total.

Other bouts to watch

Another fight that you're going to want to watch is when Jake Matthews meets Emil Meek. Matthews comes into this fight with a record of 15-4-0. The 25-year-old is fighting at 170 lbs and measures 5' 11". The orthodox fighter reaches 73". Meek measures 5' 11" and will fight at 170 lbs. The switch fighter comes into this bout with a mark of 9-4-1. The 31-year-old stretches 74". When it comes to grappling, Jake Matthews takes his opponents to the canvas 1.99 times per 15 minutes and Emil Meek is averaging a takedown 0.33 times per 3 rds. When it comes to striking, Matthews connects for an average of 3.07 strikes per min and connecting on 46% of the strikes that he throws. The other guy in this fight is Emil Meek, who connects on 38% of the strikes he has attempted and is landing 2.24 per min.

Another bout to watch is when Song Kenan is set to square up in the Octagon with Callan Potter. Potter steps into the cage with a record of 18-8-0. The 35-year-old tips the scales at 170 lbs and stands in at 6' 0". The orthodox fighter reaches 72". Kenan stands in at 6' 0" and weighs in at 170 lbs. The orthodox fighter walks into the cage with a record of 15-5-0. The 29-year-old has a wingspan of 71". Regarding takedowns, Callan Potter thwarts 90% of the takedowns fighters have gone for and is getting his opponent to the mat on 60% of his tries. Kenan is taking his opponents to the mat on 10% of the tries he takes and curbs 50% of all takedown tries against him. In the matter of striking, Potter is absorbing 4.34 strikes per minute and he deals 3.21 strikes per minute. Kenan, in contrast, takes 4.28 strikes/minute and dishes out 4.13 per minute.

Who will win tonight's UFC match against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Zubaira Tukhugov (-105)

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